Jimmy Savile driver at Cambridge court on sex offences

A former BBC chauffeur was due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court today facing five sex charges as part of the Jimmy Savile investigation.

David Smith, who drove celebrities including Savile during the 1980s, faces one count of sexual assault on a boy aged under 16, two counts of gross indecency on a boy aged under 14, and two counts of indecent assault on a boy aged under 14.

The 66-year-old from Lewisham is alleged to have committed the offences against a single victim between June and July 1984.

Smith, the first suspect to be charged as part of the Operation Yewtree investigation launched after television personality Savile was exposed as a paedophile, is appearing at Cambridge Crown Court because the case was transferred to follow Southwark Crown Court judge Mr Justice Nicol.

Several other men, including the comedians Freddie Starr and Jim Davidson, have been arrested since Operation Yewtree was launched last October.

Also detained was former BBC producer Wilfred De’Ath, from Cambridgeshire, who was arrested over an allegation of indecent assault on a girl before being released without charge when the complainant withdrew her statement.